"Ta Wa Illock Hu?"- You Want to look at a book?

It Takes a Village to Open a Library

After over a year the library, that was just a slab and four bricks high when I arrived, is now a real life library! Many thanks to all the villagers who donated their time on construction, TFABB for some of our shelves and books, and BNLS. The day before we were putting finishing touches, re-checking book placements, and moving out shelves. Carlos (the 4th form high schooler at the shop) and Alberto the 1st form high schooler also repaired a very wobbly table so they would have somewhere to do their research and homework. Gildo (our 16 year old artist prodigy...all art, music, drawing, singing) came to paint our library name. He quickly sketched out a mock up and drew it on the library with using just his eye to measure. He sent a kid for 'tape' measuring tape to check before he painted and the measurements were all perfect, only off a centimeter at most! He'd never worked with paint before so I gave him and Delsi (another high schooler) a quick lesson on blending and smooth lines. We worked on it from 10 until 5:00 jamming out to Greg's ipod and buying bbq for lunch from the church. BNLS came and brought some more books, signs, marly, and basic supplies for Christina (our librarian). We hung signs until late using an extension cord from the old library and our light from our kitchen.


Inauguration Day

November 7, 2010

The morning started early with women baking tortillas at 4 am. I came late at 6 in long pants and jacket because it was freezing! The ladies teased me along with the Chairman who was eating his breakfast of caldo and tortillas. All the women were informed to bring poch (enough for their family and a little extra) to the chairman's by the night before. All women were also invited to help clean the chicken (the 600 dollars of chicken) the evening before and bake the morning of. it was really exciting seeing the whole village pull together to make it happen. So many different people pitched in over the course of the library and it was thrilling to watch and help at these culminating times. As the time drew nearer to 10 (the starting time) village leaders started to prepare the area. My neighbor was assigned DJing, we needed extension cords, two cords appeared. We have no microphone... BAM! Now we do. More palm leaves for the decoration...done. The way people worked side by side doing what needed to be done...well the phrase...it takes a village, kept popping in my mind. Our village really knows how to pull together for the greater good. This was not the first time I'd seen this but it was by far the largest scale collaboration.


Silver Creek Community Library

The inauguration was such a success... it was on the grounds surrounding the library with the cement slab serving as the stage and the building the backdrop. We had all the important people present...Area Representative, Assistant Local Manager of Catholic Schools, two representatives of the Belize National Library Service from Belize City, and the entire school staff came out for the occasion. Each dignitary gave a speech about the importance of this building and utilizing it to its fullest potential. We are the only community library for several villages in every direction...the closest being the library in PG one hour away. Miss Christina also presented the rules and explained the process of borrowing books.

Keep Culture Alive

Preschool!!!!!

The school performed three pieces to the delight of the audience and esteemed guests. The middle and upper division presented a performance, 'Keep Culture Alive' where they would dance the harp dance with an traditional object used by the Maya (many of which are not found in most households any longer). Each student would then name and describe the object and question the audience, "who of you still use this _____? Keep culture ALIVE!" There was also a marimba dance from the upper division and an oh so cute harp dance by the preschoolers. Denira (a standard 4 girl) came to borrow my corta uuk (skirt) and po'ot (blouse) for the performance because she liked my colors.

Area Representative cutting the ribbon as the Local Manager, and Ms. Shaunna from BNLS look on.

Open house

Exploring their new library. Miss Christina standing beside the door.

Children in traditional wear checking out the books.

I couldn't get in for a while...some kids climbed in through the windows!

Following the open house the entire village and all guests were invited to the chairmans house for caldo and poch made by the village. There was a dignitaries table for honored guests and the mood was very cheerful with children playing in their beautiful clothes and women happily serving the village, if, like me they were just happy that all that work was finally done. Ms. Delphine (one of my teachers) walked out with a handful of poch and I teased her since she said she never liked poch. Apparently our ladies make poch better than any she's had (which says a lot since she's been teaching and visiting in back-a-bush villages for over 20 years)!

Blanca and Susana

Serving and eating area

First Night Open

The following day the library opened official for the first time ever. School let out and there was a tidle wave of children spilling off the veranda and rushing towards the library. We had around 150 visitors that first night and for a while it was standing room only. Children were allowed to check out books if they went and got their parents to sign the card (the principal would then sign it the following day). High schoolers and adults needed to get the Alcalde's signature in addition to their own. It was so exciting to see children running off and back with cards clutched against their chests. Christina lent books to over 50 students that night. Now, for the part that might be the most wonderful moment of my Peace Corps experience thus far:

The line wrapped around the entire interior of the library

Women!!!! We had women come in and get cards for THEMSELVES!!!! There were two mothers that came shortly after it opened, Ms. Cus and Ms. Pop. They waited outside tenatively at first. Then came inside but just stood against the wall. Christina and I welcomed them and I asked, "Ta wa illock hu?" do you want to look at a book? Both responded, "I don't know." which is ketchi for yes. So I showed them the sections of the library and explained the borrowing rules again. After sitting at the table or looking at some books for quite a time more they finally asked for, "one of those tickets." Slowly more women came and a similar courting process proceeded with each one. At the end of the day we had 8 women who went home with a library card! High schoolers instantly appeared and started doing homework, eagerly pulling encyclopedias...They would run get a bike and then take a whole stack of cards to be signed by the alcalde at once. It was loud and crazy and smelled like hair food (the grease) and masa. They stayed packed in with the windows closed to the cold until 7:30. A single bulb (ours) hanging from the rafters making the door glow invitingly luring villagers to the books like a moth to a light.

When I left I could see children speckling the street and paths clutching books like cherrished gifts. I heard stories being read as I passed the two Choco residences and then came home to the picture above. Alex reading Winnie the Pooh to Margarita as the family listened in. It has been open for almost two weeks now and one student has read 9 chapter books! The librarian confessed she thought he was just looking at the pictures and returning them the next day, but was convinced otherwise after quizzing him intensely on one of the books! It has become a popular hang out to get together and read...many just coming to read stories at the tables until it is time for dinner. I get many reports from students each day on how many books they've read, to whom, and when. The school also has its own day, wednesdays where they can return or check out books and get a little story time. Silver Creek, discovering the world one book at a time.

In other news: that tarantula walked over my foot, it has been very cold, and a baby was born.

Also, planting season is finally over so now on Saturdays and Sundays we get to sleep in until 6:30 instead of getting up at 4:30 or 5. Greg was just getting good at planting too...

Lastly, a drug run plane was discovered on the highway a few miles from our village. They found 14 million dollars BZE (street value) of cocaine that was smuggled in. Several high ranking police officers were arrested and it is causing a lot of anger and fear, some fearing a shoot out at police stations. It is the talk of the village and the radio. If you want to know more here's a link

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/42838